CHURCH PARADE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 115, 11 November 1935, Page 11

CHURCH PARADE

LEGION- OF FRONTIERSMAN

It is the. custom of the Legion of Frontiersmen to hold a church parade once a year to place a wreath on a war memorial in honour of the two thousand Frontiersmen who fell in the Great War, and yesterday members of I Squadron of the Legion travelled to Masterton to take part in a parade there. Ninety-three men, including the Legion's band, left Wellington early in the morning for Masterton, where they were hospitably received. It is hoped that as a result of their visit there will be an increase in the strength of the Legion in that centre.

The parade numbered 125 men, under Captain H. G. Burton, officer commanding I Squadron, there being eighteen men under Lieutenant A. Henderson from the Hutt Valley Troop, and fourteen, under Lieutenant F. G. Bungay, from Palmerston North. Colonel C. H. Weston, Commissioner for New Zealand of the Legion of Frontiersmen, was also present. At St. Matthew's Church the Rev. E. J. Rich conducted the service. He referred to the objects of the Legion, discussing in particular the value of the loyalty underlying the movement.

During the afternoon the parade marched to the War Memorial, where a wreath was placed, and the Rev J Davie, of the Presbyterian Church, delivered an address. Referring to the loyalty shown by members of the Legion of Frontiersmen, he said that there were some persons who were prone.to think that other countries were better than their own, but he con-sidered-that a man who was not prepared to be loyal to his own country should, goto the one he considered better- and stay there. There was,a large gathering of the public present at the parade, and the visiting Frontiersmen were given a cordial reception.